pbs Digest, Vol 90, Issue 36
CGeat25049@aol.com (Sat, 24 Jul 2010 07:30:34 PDT)

RE "How I got hooked"
Well that's a story I tell often. My first contact with plants came about
55 years ago. I was a comic book fanatic and in the back they sold seeds
for ten cents a pack. I could afford that . I had a 25 cent allowance. So I
bought a few and shared them with my sisters only mine always grew the best.
Since theirs didn't they lost interest. My interest waxed and waned and
then I bought my first house. I saw marigolds in the nursery but I wanted to
grow different kinds. I sent for Parks seed catalog ( may they rest and
peace) and OMG, there were so many different seeds and so cheap. I ordered
several packs and with growing success I started looking for more to buy. IN
the back of the catalog, they had an invitation to join the Indoor
Gardening Club of America. Guess what? The president lived in Manhattan,. I called
her and she invited me to," Come on down !" From there, I joined the
begonia society, the african violet society ( president and treasurer) gesneriad
society , etc and etc. I built a greenhouse because the light stand wasn't
doin' it and then another. We tore those two down and put up a 500 sq ft
structure. That wasn't big enough either. I sold my house in New York and
bought a house with a big lot in Florida so my whole back yard is a shade
house . ( What hurricane?) And so here I am with thousands of plants and the
back yard is getting too small and my neighbors think I am loca 'til they
get a free plant. : )
Cherry